It has just recently come to my attention that it is illegal for you to use marineradio outside of the US without a radio operators license. I have been going up to Canada for some time now, and did not know this. Has anybody been cited for this? Has anyone had to pay fines, etc because they were using the VHF in foreign waters?
I am going to get my RRO now ASAP, as well as my station license, but I would like to hear others experience concerning this regulation.

Canada does not require a station license for VHF on a pleasure craft, last I heard.
They do like it if you do have an radio operators certificate, and that is a requirement to operate VHF in Canadian waters......again last I heard.

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I have had a radio operator's license since forever, and I don't believe anyone has ever asked about it ever, anywhere. Once in a great while I have had the Coast Guard or some other official ask for my ship's radio call sign, which is a different matter.

While Americans are not required to have an operators license to use a VHF in US territorial waters, one is required if going foreign. I don't know if this is ever checked by any authority in the world... I know that mine has never been out of the nav station since I got it!

Seems that the powers that be are more concerned with flares, PFDs and potties.

Never a problem, sometimes a customs station will ask for your station ID. I always just repeat the boat name. It is the same license you "need" for an SSB. Believe it runs about $140 every 5 years from FCC.

Never a problem, sometimes a customs station will ask for your station ID. I always just repeat the boat name. It is the same license you "need" for an SSB. Believe it runs about $140 every 5 years from FCC.

Since I am going through this process, I can update you. It is 170 USD for every 10 years. I find it fascinating that no one ever reinforces this rule, yet there it is. I am getting a station ID because it is needed for an AIS that goes international. And I want to get just one MMSI # and have all my electronics attached to it. They will be- VHF, AIS, ERIB and SSB. The boat will be set for life or until another regulation hits it
Apparently, my call sign with be part of my MMSI number. Does anyone know how many digits I need to call out?

Since I am going through this process, I can update you. It is 170 USD for every 10 years. I find it fascinating that no one ever reinforces this rule, yet there it is. I am getting a station ID because it is needed for an AIS that goes international. And I want to get just one MMSI # and have all my electronics attached to it. They will be- VHF, AIS, ERIB and SSB. The boat will be set for life or until another regulation hits it
Apparently, my call sign with be part of my MMSI number. Does anyone know how many digits I need to call out?

Radio call sign for the ship will be seven characters long. Its not the same as the mmsi#. Least it's not on mine.

While Americans are not required to have an operators license to use a VHF in US territorial waters, one is required if going foreign. I don't know if this is ever checked by any authority in the world... I know that mine has never been out of the nav station since I got it!

Seems that the powers that be are more concerned with flares, PFDs and potties.

Cheers,

Jim

In Europe occasionally on a boarding you will be asked for your radio certificates if you have a VHF or other radio. But it's very rare.

Dave

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